Articles & Interviews
Showing 25 articles & interviews for "CAST IRON PIGGY BANK"American Cast-Iron Furniture
This article notes the popularity of cast-iron in the 19th century, describing the wide variety of items that were made of the material. It originally appeared in the July 1944 issue of American Collector magazine, a publication which ran f… Read more »
Anita Pointer: Civil-Rights Activist, Pop Star, and Serious Collector of Black Memorabilia
Ten Little Niggers Read more »
Wrought-Iron Furniture for English Gardens
This article discusses the introduction of garden furniture in the 18th century, which was fueled by the new view of the garden as an outdoor living area, and notes the evolution from wooden furniture to wrought-iron pieces. It originally a… Read more »
Collecting Toy Cars, from Diecast Chevys to Lithographed Tin
Ron Sturgeon and Rodney Ross discuss collecting rare toy cars, including early tin, wind-up, pressed steel and other models. Ron Sturgeon is the founder of the DFW Elite Toy Museum in Austin, Texas, a member of our Hall of Fame. Rodney Ross… Read more »
Baron Stiegel, Ironmaster and Glassmaker
This article discusses the life and work of Heinrich Wilhelm Stiegel, noting his experiences working in the iron business, his switch to glass, and his eventual bankruptcy. It originally appeared in the November 1937 issue of American Colle… Read more »
Occupy Boardwalk: How Games Got Greedy
(The images, at top, of vintage Monopoly game boxes come from Early Monopoly Game Box Designs. The mechanical bank is from iCollector.com.) Read more »
Getting Started With an Antique Letterpress
Online since 1995, the Briar Press Museum (a member of our Hall of Fame) is dedicated to the history of the printing press. Here, founder Elizabeth Nevin explains to collectors the basic facts to consider when buying/selling/restoring an a… Read more »
Early Typewriters of the Late 1800s
Martin Howard's website, antiquetypewriters.com, features his collection of antique typewriters and typewriter accessories, and is a member of our Hall of Fame. Read more »
Ian Macky Explains the Colors and History of Insulators
In this interview Ian Macky describes the origins, types, shapes and colors of collectible antique glass insulators. Based in Yreka, California, Macky can be reached via his website, Glassian, which is a member of our Hall of Fame. Read more »
Jim Potts on Vintage Petroliana
In this interview Jim Potts talks about collecting petroliana: signs, gas pumps, globes, oil cans, maps, and other items related to gas stations and oil companies. Based in DeSoto, Missouri, Jim can be reached via his website, Oldgas.com, w… Read more »
Beer and Soda Bottle Opener Bliss
In this article John Stanley talks about collecting antique beer and soda bottle openers, including figurals and other varieties. Based in Durham, North Carolina, John can be reached through his website, Just For Openers, which is a member … Read more »
Bill Lindsey on How To Read a Bottle
Bill Lindsey discusses antique bottles, including mouth blown bottles, bitters, figurals, inks, medicines, flasks, and many other varieties. He also explains the history and methods of early bottle production, and how diggers find bottles. … Read more »
English Clocks in American Cases
The following piece focuses on clockmakers in the U.S. and Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, specifically the marks and materials they used and the regulations that were placed on them. It originally appeared in the December 1940 issue… Read more »
Geographic Distribution of Early Clockmaking in America
This article, written by the curator of the James Arthur Collection of Clocks and Watches at New York University, discusses clockmaking in the 18th and 19th centuries, noting the rise and fall of the independent clockmaker, the movement awa… Read more »
George Washington and His Presidential Furniture
This article details the furniture items used by George Washington, from the elaborate furnishings chosen for him by Lady Kitty Duer and Mrs. Osgood to the desk he chose himself. It originally appeared in the February 1941 issue of American… Read more »
The Care and Repair of 19th-Century American Clocks
Dave Weisbart talks about 19th-century clocks, discussing notable manufacturers and designs and sharing his experience with clock repairs. Dave is the owner of Prestige Clock Repair in Huntington Beach, CA and shares his clock collection on… Read more »
Antique Sewing Machine Collector Harry Berzack on Singers and Manhattans
Harry Berzack is a collector of 19th-century and pre-World War II sewing machines. Unlike many collectors in this field, Harry’s 500-piece collection is international in scope. Recently we spoke with Harry about his collection of antique se… Read more »
An Inside Look at Antiques Roadshow: A Collectors Weekly Special Report
Ever wonder how Antiques Roadshow really works? How they pick who gets on TV? Whether the people on the show have fun? Whether the appraisers really know what they’re talking about? Read more »
Firefighting Memorabilia, From Crown Coaches to Cairns Helmets
In this interview, former fireman Don Croucher talks about firefighting collectibles, from department badges to actual fire trucks. Croucher, who retired in 2001 after 35 years in the fire service, also discusses such major fire apparatus m… Read more »
Prewar Lionel Toy Trains, from Gondolas to Blue Comets
In this interview, David Dansky talks about Lionel electric trains, as well as model trains made by other manufacturers that didn’t survive the Depression. Along the way, he also offers a rundown of common train gauges and looks at some rar… Read more »
Japan's Best Postwar Export? Tinplate Cars
In this interview, “Vintage Slot Cars” author Philippe de Lespinay talks about his collection of Japanese tinplate automobile toys. He discusses manufacturers such as Marusan, Bandai, and Alps, and explains how the export of these tinplate … Read more »